The Russian newspaper "Izvestia" has quoted a source in Russia's Baltic Fleet as saying deployment of the new S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system has started in the Kaliningrad exclave.

The source said the system would provide defense from air and rocket attack along Russia's western borders.

Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov of the Baltic Fleet told "Izvestia" in February he expected the system to be deployed to Kaliningrad in April.

The move has been seen as a response to U.S. plans to deploy a missile shield in Europe, despite objections from the Kremlin.

Speaking in the village of Zarya outside Moscow on April 6, Russian air-defense commander General Viktor Gummeny said the S-400 would also be deployed in Russia's eastern Primorye border regions before the end of this year.

According to Russian media, each S-400 system can "hit simultaneously 36 targets with up to 72 missiles."